Custom build for a Gal down in Kansas City, she gave me this cool old Delco radio that has been in her family for generations at Junkstock last fall and wanted it turned into an Amplifier. Here it is: Basically the only thing left of the original radio is the wood case and the front Delco tuning glass. 2 watt Guitar Fuel amp circuit, 4" Juliette speaker, the left knob is the gain control and the right knob is on/off/volume, input jack in the center, red on/off l.e.d. light in the tuning glass, 9 volt battery box in back, oil rubbed bronze soundport in back. I had to make a new back for it also as the original one was in bad shape.
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The biggest challenge with these old radio conversions is making the radio "appear" to be as it was when it was built 60 or 70 years ago. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. When it's someone else's radio that has been in their family for generations it's a little unnerving to start tearing the guts out and taking stuff apart and cutting stuff to retro in the new parts. But it all seems to work out with all the builds I've done.......so far :-/
When they turn out looking pretty good and when you plug in and strike that first chord thru the speaker and it sounds better than you expected, it makes the extra time involved all worth while.
Looking forward to seeing you work your magic on your radio's.....now get to work!!! :-)
That looks great Maddog. I've picked up some similar ones from flea markets but haven't done anything with them yet. The ones you've done are making me want to get out there and do it!
Thanks Wes, Gary, AGP #, Pick, Hal, Glenn, Monteray, Thomas and Gary! Much appreciated Gentlemen! :-)
AGP, she's a pretty Lady indeed :-)
Hal, the innards on this were to far gone to be brought back. As long as the radio works most can be turned into amps. The volume pot is usually the best hacking point.
Oh yes, that is way cool!! You did a real good job converting that radio.
I used to have an old floor model tube shortwave I gutted, put in an old AM car radio with jumper cables to a 12 volt car battery in the bottom. Got a lot of use out of her when they shut our hydro off!
I have a nice Hi-Fi that's gutted I was thinking would make a nice amp...
Nice job. When I saw this I was hoping you'd kept the tube innards and converted that. I have a warm soiunding old '50's Admiral I want to convert, but keep getting conflicting info on how to (safely) hack it. Any ideas?
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Thanks so much Jim!
The biggest challenge with these old radio conversions is making the radio "appear" to be as it was when it was built 60 or 70 years ago. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. When it's someone else's radio that has been in their family for generations it's a little unnerving to start tearing the guts out and taking stuff apart and cutting stuff to retro in the new parts. But it all seems to work out with all the builds I've done.......so far :-/
When they turn out looking pretty good and when you plug in and strike that first chord thru the speaker and it sounds better than you expected, it makes the extra time involved all worth while.
Looking forward to seeing you work your magic on your radio's.....now get to work!!! :-)
That looks great Maddog. I've picked up some similar ones from flea markets but haven't done anything with them yet. The ones you've done are making me want to get out there and do it!
Thanks Wes, Gary, AGP #, Pick, Hal, Glenn, Monteray, Thomas and Gary! Much appreciated Gentlemen! :-)
AGP, she's a pretty Lady indeed :-)
Hal, the innards on this were to far gone to be brought back. As long as the radio works most can be turned into amps. The volume pot is usually the best hacking point.
Just plain beautiful.
I used to have an old floor model tube shortwave I gutted, put in an old AM car radio with jumper cables to a 12 volt car battery in the bottom. Got a lot of use out of her when they shut our hydro off!
I have a nice Hi-Fi that's gutted I was thinking would make a nice amp...
Mercy! Sweet job MADDOG. Wanna make me howl some blues over here!! -Glenn
Nice job. When I saw this I was hoping you'd kept the tube innards and converted that. I have a warm soiunding old '50's Admiral I want to convert, but keep getting conflicting info on how to (safely) hack it. Any ideas?
Nice!, is the Gal down in Kansas City as pretty as the Amp???
thexah !
'Dog - this is wicked cool! Everything about it!
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